Guinea Pigs Make Perfect Pet Pals

Guinea Pigs are perfect pets for children over the age of 6. They are comical and friendly. Their soft fur makes them irresistible to hold and cuddle. They don't scratch or bite and love to have someone to call their own.

The Guinea Pig is in the taxonomic order of Rodents and the family name is Cavies. These small animals originally came from South America. Some wild cavies were tamed by the Incas around 10,000 years ago for food, sacrifice and pets. The Indians of Panama also kept them as pets. There are records of the Spanish conquerors encountering small, squealing animals in houses everywhere. Guinea Pigs arrived in Europe as early as 1540.

Records show Guinea Pigs arriving in Holland around 1670 from what was Dutch Guyana. Thinking that these cute, friendly creatures would make wonderful playmates for their children, Dutch merchants took them back to the Netherlands. From this point, people began breeding them for sale. At first only the wealthy in England and France could afford them since each piglet would sell for one guinea - an English gold coin.

Today, you can purchase a male Guinea Pig for $25 - $45, depending on the kind of pig you want. Visit a reputable, local pet store and you will see a variety of colors with different types of coats. When ready to select a pig, make sure the Guinea Pigs aren't kept in overcrowded quarters and their food and water bowls are clean.

It is best to choose a male pig that is approximately five to six weeks old. (A female could very well be pregnant already.) Guinea pigs are sociable animals; watch how they behave with each other, look for one who is frisky and cheerful. Look for a thick coat that isn't shedding heavily and that its feet are nice and pink with no sores. Good pet store dealers will guide you with advice to select the perfect pig pet.

*Note: Older Guinea Pigs may be available at an animal shelter. Those who haven't been there long will bond with a new owner quickly. Others who have been away from human contact may be very shy and need a little extra love, but will eventually come around.

Becoming a Guinea Pig owner is a big commitment and the child receiving the pig should be very aware of this. Pigs can live as long as 8-10 years. (This is much longer than a hamster, gerbil, or rat that lives only 2-3 years.) Pig pals need a cage which must be kept clean with fresh food and water. Most of all, they need one-on-one time with their boy or girl. A Guinea Pig needs someone to "talk" to and something to do, even if it is sitting on the child's desk while he/she is doing homework.

A single Guinea Pig is more suitable for a child that wants it as a special friend. It will become tame more quickly and the trust that develops between pig and child will be long lasting. Guinea Pigs possess all the qualities a child looks for in a pet. The critters are small enough to handle easily, they like to be petted and the more attention they get, the livelier and smarter they become. In the process, children learn how to deal with the animal in a responsible, natural way.
However, parents should still monitor the relationship. Make sure the cage is kept clean and make sure the pig is healthy. A child may be unable to detect a health problem right away. Encourage interaction between pig and child to develop a strong bond between the friends. No two Guinea Pigs are the same and eventually each child will learn each peculiarity of his/her pig.

Winning the Guinea Pig's confidence is the first step to taming the animal. Allow the child to feed the pig nutritious treats. If two or more pigs live in the same household, have the pigs live in separate rooms; preferably a room with its owner. Limit the time the pigs interact with each other. They should bond with their human, not each other.

As time goes on, each pig and child forms a special relationship. The pig will recognize the child's voice and respond by lifting his chin and giving a whistle. Some pigs can be "trained" to sit up on their hind legs or lift their chin on command. Guinea Pigs enjoy music but are afraid of loud, sudden noises. They love to be spoken to and will "speak" back. Some will even "sing" to their owner.

A precious sight is seeing a child relaxing with a Guinea Pig pal. Both in complete contentment, simply enjoying being in each other's company for many years.